The fourth running of the MMI Molecules to Medicines course and workshop took place on 5-6 November 2009 at St James’s Hospital, with 27 attendees.

On Day 1, staff from Pfizer Grange Castle presented on discovery, development and manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals, with a clinical perspective provided by  Professor Joe Keane (St. James’s Hospital & Institute of Molecular Medicine, TCD), whose lecture was entitled "Developing drugs – anticipating toxicity – and doing something about it".
 

The discovery lectures, given by Dr Jonny Finlay (Global Biologic Therapeutics, Pfizer), introduced the business of discovering biopharmaceuticals and discussed current biopharmaceutical product candidates and next generation technologies. Dr Patrick Gammell (Scientist, Pfizer Grange Castle) covered the next stage of the biopharma process in the development section of the programme, with lectures on cell line and process development. This was followed by lectures on manufacturing given by Dr Paul Dillon (Senior Scientist, Pfizer Grange Castle), introducing the science and technology of biopharmaceutical manufacturing and the application of molecular technologies in manufacturing environments.


A workshop was held on 6 November for a select group of course attendees. Here the three Pfizer speakers from the course led study groups involving discussion of key issues arising during biopharmaceutical discovery, development and manufacturing. Workshop participants broke up into small groups to discuss solutions to specifically designed problem sets. Feedback from this practical workshop was extremely positive.

As a follow-on from the Molecules to Medicines course, a trip to the Pfizer Grange Castle Wyeth campus will be organised for a limited group of course attendees on 7 December 2009. The tour will be hosted by Dr Patrick Gammell and will include a facility video presentation, a facility tour and a round-table discussion.